Heritage Lottery Fund Project

As the first stage of our Project draws to its conclusion, a great deal of our time has been spent in planning for the activities we propose to offer during and after the second, delivery phase. As this plan has developed over a series of meetings, we have become increasingly excited by the vast amount of history in Saint Laurence Church. The proposed activities will seek to bring this to life as we look at the real stories behind the church windows and other memorials.

We have just had our Remembrance Sunday service and rightly call to mind each individual who made the ultimate sacrifice in the 2 Great Wars. Just as each one had their own story (indeed one, Reuben Kent has had his meticulously researched and now publshed by his family), so we have looked at many of the stories of those commemorated by windows and artefacts in our church.

Whilst we have still to secure the funding for this second stage, we believe that our proposals are worthy of the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund. There is a great deal of support for the Project, not just among our own congregation, but also in the wider Community of Measham. Certainly, the stone- and glasswork ned the repairs, but we agree that the Church, as a living community with a past, present and future, needs to celebrate those stories.

We plan to uncover and resite the WW1 Role of Honour, itself a noteworthy historical item, which has been hidden away for so long.

This, together with the fact that 2018 sees the centennial of the ending of hostilities, opens up great possibilities for an event, hopefully involving the school, to be arranged.

The proposed activities will give everyone the opportunity to find something of interest. Trails around the church, explanations of the significance of the religious imagery in the windows plus the stories of those for whom they were erected.

Few, even of our own congregation, have seen the magnificent bells in the tower, one of them dating from around 1300, or the bellringers in action.

Our plan is to video both and enable visitors to see them for themselves, hopefully through a mobile phone.

Others of a more practical nature will have the chance to see the craftsmen at work and witness the progress of the restoration work. Then, once the building is completely safe for visitors, groups, families and individuals will be able to enjoy tailored to their particular interests.

Of course, there will still be time for people simply to enjoy the beauty and peace of the building.